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International Conventions
Agenda 21 and the Rio Conventions
The importance and
value of national strategies for sustainable development run as
a strong theme throughout Agenda 21 – the action plan of the 1992
UN Conference on Environment and Development (held in Rio de Janeiro).
Agenda 21
Convention
on Biological Diversity
Convention
on Climate Change
Convention
to Combat Desertification
   Agenda
21 Full Text
Agenda 21: Extracts
of particualr relevance to nssds
"Its [Agenda 21's] successful implementation is first
and foremost the responsibility of governments. National strategies,
plans, policies and processes are crucial in achieving this. International
cooperation should support and supplement such national efforts."
Chapter 8
"Governments, in cooperation, where appropriate,
with international organizations, should adopt a national strategy
for sustainable development based on, inter alia, the implementation
of decisions taken at the Conference, particularly in respect of
Agenda 21. This strategy should build upon and harmonize the various
sectoral economic, social and environmental policies and plans that
are operating in the country. The experience gained through existing
planning exercises such as national reports for the Conference,
national conservation strategies and environment action plans should
be fully used and incorporated into a country-driven sustainable
development strategy. Its goals should be to ensure socially responsible
economic development while protecting the resource base and the
environment for the benefit of future generations. It should be
developed through the widest possible participation. It should be
a thorough assessment of the current situation and initiatives".
A major challenge for National Sustainable Development
Strategies (NSDSs) is to translate the words and commitments of
UNCED into concrete policies and actions that help individual nations
embark on paths towards sustainable development, and to stay on
course.
Agenda 21 describes an NSDS in which participation
is integral, with governments enabling and people managing, as follows:
"National strategies, plans, policies
and processes are crucial in achieving this... The strategy should
build upon and harmonize the various sectoral economic, social and
environmental policies and plans that are operating in the country...
Its goals should be to ensure socially responsible economic development
while protecting the resource base and the environment for the benefit
of future generations. It should be developed through the widest
possible participation".
The need for the "widest possible public participation"
is noted in a number of chapters in Agenda 21 (Box 1), although there
is very little clarity about how to assure it. But the idea of participation
as an "elixir" to revive failed planning approaches has become widespread.
The key question is: what forms of participation are appropriate,
given the tasks at hand to address the issues facing certain stakeholders
? Agenda 21 emphasises capacity-building at the community level
and empowerment, indicating, for example, that governments
"should implement programmes with
a focus on empowerment of local and community groups by delegating
authority, accountability and resources to the most appropriate
level".
Such support of a community-driven approach to sustainability
by empowering groups should
"respect cultural integrity and rights,
promote grass-roots mechanisms to allow for sharing of experiences,
give to communities a large measure of participation in management
and protection of resources, and establish networks of community-based
learning centres".
| Participation
Agenda 21 calls for participation effectively
in all the elements of a strategy cycle.
Chapter 8 (Integrating environment and development
in decision-making), "an adjustment or even a fundamental
reshaping of decision-making, in the light of country specific
conditions may be necessary if environment and development
is to be put at the centre of economic and political decision-making,
in effect achieving full integration of these factors".
Chapter 23 (Strengthening the role of the major
groups), it requires, in the "specific context of environment
and development, the need for new forms of participation"
and notes "the need of individuals, groups and organisations
to participate in decisions, particularly those which affect
the communities in which they live and work".
Chapter 26 (Recognising and strengthening the
role of indigenous people and their communities), active participation
is called for to incorporate their "values, views and knowledge".
Chapter 33 (Financial resources and mechanisms),
"priorities should be established by means that incorporate
public participation and community involvement providing equal
opportunity for men and women... In this respect, consultative
groups and round tables and other nationally-based mechanisms
can play a facilitative role".
Chapter 37 (National mechanisms and international
cooperation for capacity-building), "as an important aspect
of overall planning, each country should seek internal consensus
at all levels of society on policies and programmes needed
for short- and long-term capacity building to implement its
Agenda 21 programme. This consensus should result from a participatory
dialogue of relevant interest groups and lead to an identification
of skill gaps, institutional capacities and capabilities,
technological and scientific requirements and resource needs
to enhance environmental knowledge and administration to integrate
environment and development". |
Agenda 21 includes the following
chapters:
1. Preamble
SECTION I. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DIMENSIONS
2. International cooperation to accelerate sustainable
development in developing countries and related domestic policies
3. Combating poverty
4. Changing consumption patterns
5. Demographic dynamics and sustainability
6. Protecting and promoting human health conditions
7. Promoting sustainable human settlement development
8. Integrating environment and development in decision-making
SECTION II. CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCES
FOR DEVELOPMENT
9. Protection of the atmosphere
10. Integrated approach to the planning and management
of land resources
11. Combating deforestation
12. Managing fragile ecosystems: combating desertification
and drought
13. Managing fragile ecosystems: sustainable mountain
development
14. Promoting sustainable agriculture and rural development
15. Conservation of biological diversity
16. Environmentally sound management of biotechnology
17. Protection of the oceans, all kinds of seas, including
enclosed and semi-enclosed seas, and coastal areas and the protection,
rational use and development of their living resources
18. Protection of the quality and supply of freshwater
resources: application of integrated approaches to the development,
management and use of water resources
19. Environmentally sound management of toxic chemicals,
including prevention of illegal international traffic in toxic and
dangerous products
20. Environmentally sound management of hazardous
wastes, in hazardous wastes
21. Environmentally sound management of solid wastes
and sewage-related issues
22. Safe and environmentally sound management of radioactive
wastes
SECTION III. STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF MAJOR GROUPS
23. Preamble
24. Global action for women towards sustainable and
equitable development
25. Children and youth in sustainable development
26. Recognizing and strengthening the role of indigenous
people and their communities
27. Strengthening the role of non-governmental organizations:
partners for sustainable development
28. Local authorities' initiatives in support of Agenda
21
29. Strengthening the role of workers and their trade
unions
30. Strengthening the role of business and industry
31. Scientific and technological community
32. Strengthening the role of farmers
SECTION IV. MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION
33. Financial resources and mechanisms
34. Transfer of environmentally sound technology,
cooperation and capacity-building
35. Science for sustainable development
36. Promoting education, public awareness and training
37. National mechanisms and international cooperation
for capacity-building in developing countries
38. International institutional arrangements
39. International legal instruments and mechanisms
40. Information for decision-making
| See the Agenda 21 web site:
Agenda 21 is a comprehensive plan of action
to be taken globally, nationally and locally by organizations
of the United Nations System, Governments, and Major Groups
in every area in which human impacts on the environment.
Agenda 21, the Rio Declaration on Environment
and Development, and the Statement of principles for the Sustainable
Management of Forests were adopted by more than 178 Governments
at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development
(UNCED) held in Rio de Janerio, Brazil, 3 to 14 June 1992. |
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http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/agenda21.htm |
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